Maintaining Surgical Principles While Transitioning from Multiport to Single Port Robotic Thymectomy

A. R. Brownlee¹, L. Weiser², H. J. Soukiasian^2
1Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California ²Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los angeles, California

Please explain the educational or technical point that this video addresses.: This video demonstrates our institutional approach to robotic single port subxiphoid robotic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. An emphasis is made on maintaining the key surgical principles to the management of thymectomy for non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis. This case was performed under a federal drug administration investigational device exemption trial. With the imminent approval of this surgical platform, the vide will be of great interest to the attendees of the annual meeting.

Please provide a 250 word summary of the surgical video being submitted.: This video demonstrates a subxiphoid approach to thymectomy in a 30 year old female with treatment resistant myasthenia gravis. We demonstrate the relevant anatomy and its unique appearance from the subxiphoid approach. We also show the use of blunt dissection combined with monopolar and bipolar cautery and dissection to safely excise the thymic tissue in its entirety while maintaining a safe view of the vasculature and phrenic nerves.